Cell Tissue Culture Blocks Using Soluble Holding Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for culturing cell tissues using bioprinting face challenges in maintaining production efficiency due to the fragility of cell tissues, which are easily damaged when the substrate is removed during the collection process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving linear printing of cells between two substrates with both ends supported, followed by filling a soluble liquid holding material that cures, allowing the tissues to be separated from the substrates by cutting out the cured holding material, and then dividing it into blocks, thereby protecting the tissues during separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the substrate is removed during cell tissue collection, then the cell tissue can be collected, but the cell tissue may be damaged due to its fragility
Solution Approach 1:
A water-soluble holding material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the substrate and the cell tissue. This holding material maintains the cell tissue in a fixed state during culture and can be easily removed by dissolution in water during collection, allowing the fragile cell tissue to be separated from the substrate without direct mechanical handling that would cause damage
Solution Approach 2:
The holding material undergoes a parameter change from a solid gel state during culture to a dissolved state in water during collection. This parameter change allows the holding material to transition from providing structural support to being easily removable, enabling efficient collection while protecting the cell tissue
2Reliability
If the cell tissue is handled carefully to prevent damage, then the integrity is maintained, but the production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The water-soluble holding material serves as a mediator that eliminates the need for careful manual handling during collection. The holding material allows the cell tissue to be manipulated as a unified structure that can be easily separated from the substrate by simple water dissolution, significantly improving production efficiency while maintaining integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical process of carefully separating fragile cell tissue from the substrate is replaced by a chemical dissolution process. Water is used to dissolve the holding material, automatically releasing the cell tissue without requiring delicate mechanical manipulation, thus improving both efficiency and consistency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances production efficiency by minimizing damage to cell tissues and facilitating easy handling and alignment of the tissues, ensuring high collection rates and alignment of fiber directions.
Implementation Method 1
filling, between the first substrate and the second substrate, a soluble liquid holding material that cures under a predetermined condition; curing the filled holding material
Implementation Method 2
separating each of the plurality of cell tissues from at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate by cutting out the cured holding material from at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The production method includes: linearly printing a plurality of cells between a first substrate and a second substrate in such a manner that both ends of the plurality of cells are supported on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively; obtaining a plurality of cell tissues T by culturing the printed plurality of cells; filling a soluble liquid holding material between the first substrate and the second substrate; curing the filled holding material; separating each of the plurality of cell tissues T from at least one base material; and obtaining a plurality of blocks 50C by dividing the holding material along an extending direction of the plurality of cell tissues T held by the cured holding material. The obtaining of the plurality of blocks 50C includes housing the cured holding material in a dividing housing 30 provided with a plurality of blades 31.